Moscow, within CSTO, offers Yerevan, Baku assistance to settle border

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia, within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), has offered to provide assistance to Baku and Yerevan in resolving the situation on the border, with an idea to establish an Armenian-Azerbaijani commission for delimitation and demarcation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday, May 19, following talks with his Tajik counterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin.

"Yesterday, we started the work of the CSTO Foreign Ministers in an informal format. We considered the request of our Armenian colleagues and, in accordance with this request, discussed the situation in relations between Yerevan and Baku," Lavrov said.

"By prior agreement with the parties, the Russian Federation offered to assist in the delimitation and demarcation of the border, taking the initiative to create a joint Armenian-Azerbaijani commission for this purpose, in which Russia could take part as a consultant, a mediator, if you like."

Lavrov noted that Russia has also informed other countries about the efforts that Moscow is making to resolve the situation on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

On the morning of May 12, the armed forces of Azerbaijan violated the border of Armenia in the southern province of Syunik, advancing 3.5 kilometers and surrounding Sev Lake, which is situated on the border between the two countries but is predominantly a part of Armenia. On May 13, the Azerbaijani military committed more border violations against Armenia, advancing near Vardenis (Gegharkunik province) and Sisian (Syunik province).